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White Rock native has gone from prospect to trade bait to veteran presence after deal brought him back to Vancouver for a second stint

Johnny Wesley has packed a lot already into his Vancouver Giants career.

The club hyped up his signing when they plucked him from the ranks of the Junior B Richmond Sockeyes in 2013-14, and he scored his first WHL goal 10 seconds in his second-ever game, which came the following campaign. He was the prospect dealt to the Lethbridge Hurricanes at the 2015 trade deadline in the Zane Jones deal, and Vancouver traded to get him back last November, sending Lethbridge a 2018 eighth-rounder in return.

Wesley played just eight games with Vancouver last season before he underwent season-ending shoulder surgery. This season, the 19-year-old White Rock native has become one of the leadership types with the Langley Events Centre crew.

“We’ve got a lot of young guys. Some guys have to step up, and I feel like I can be that guy,” said Wesley, who has five goals and four assists in 22 games this season going into Vancouver’s visit Friday to the Spokane Chiefs (7 p.m, TSN 1410).

“I can be a team guy, somebody willing to lead by example.

“It was weird to be traded back. But it was good. I’m from here. I’ve got family here. And it’s Vancouver. It’s a great place to play. It was all positive.”

Wesley has a heavy shot and has shown he can produce offensively at other levels. He had 27 goals and 30 assists in 44 games with the Sockeyes three seasons ago. He put up 11 goals and 10 assists in 19 games with the BCHL’s Surrey Eagles last year before joining Vancouver.

He’s tried to play more of a two-way gritty game this season and he’s had some success in an energy-line role for coach Jason McKee.

Johnny WesleyÂ played just eight games for the Vancouver Giants last season after being sidelined by shoulder surgery.NICK PROCAYLO /
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Wesley was playing in that spot in Vancouver’s 8-3 loss to the Regina Pats on Sunday and was one of the team’s best players that contest. McKee put him in more of an offensive spot in Wednesday’s visit to the Tri-City Americans, teaming him with Ty Ronning to flank Dawson Holt for much of the game, and that unit was arguably the most dangerous trio for Vancouver in a 5-1 setback.

“I have to get more involved in the battles,” said the 5-foot-11, 195-pound Wesley.

“If I’m involved in the battles, I feel like I’m a pretty good player and can show my skill and my shot. I feel like if I’m not engaged enough I’m not effective.”

McKee is helping out in that regard, regularly using Wesley as part of Vancouver’s penalty-killing unit. It’s a job that he hasn’t had often in his junior career.

“It’s a good role. I enjoy it. Blocking a shot there is just as good as getting a goal,” he said.

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